Matchday 28 in the League One campaign brings us a crucial mid-table clash, with Exeter City set to face Blackpool at St James Park on Saturday afternoon.
These sides are separated by just one point and one place in the league standings, with the hosts currently ahead, though they have played a game more than their upcoming opponent.
Match preview
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Exeter City have been sliding in the league standings in recent weeks, now down to 14th place with 32 points, including a record of nine wins, seven draws and 12 defeats from their 26 matches this term.
The Grecians come into this match off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Peterborough in midweek, which was their fifth consecutive match without victory since their 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day.
Against the Posh, Gary Caldwell's side went behind to a Hector Kyprianou goal in the first half and looked as though they were heading for a fourth-straight defeat, but their blushes were saved by Millenic Alli, who found a leveller in stoppage time.
Chief among the side's struggles of late has been their leaky defence that has conceded 10 goals in their last five matches and has failed to maintain a clean sheet since the middle of November.
Following two away games, Exeter will return to SJP this week, but they have not been performing well at home lately, with just a single victory in their last seven games, while they have conceded two or more goals in five of their last six at the venue.
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Meanwhile, after narrowly missing out on a playoff spot last season, Blackpool have experienced a notable drop-off this term, now winless in their last seven matches across all competitions.
The Seasiders' most recent outing ended in a 2-2 draw at home to Huddersfield United, where they led by two goals at the break, but saw their advantage wiped out just five minutes into the second half.
Steve Bruce's side have struggled to turn good performances into three points, with the last match marking their fourth consecutive drawn result, while they have now played out 10 stalemates this season - the most of any team in the division.
Blackpool won the last League One meeting between the clubs, coming out on top 2-1 at Bloomfield Road in September, but they have failed to win any of their last three away games, losing to Wrexham and drawing the last two against Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers.
Team News
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Joel Colwill, who joined Exeter on loan from Cardiff City earlier this month and impressed in his first start against Birmingham, made his home debut in midweek and should keep his place down the left flank this weekend.
Vincent Harper was discharged from hospital in the week after suffering a head injury during the closing stages of the loss to the Blues, and he will have to sit out this match as part of the concussion protocol.
Blackpool defender Matthew Pennington suffered an ankle injury in the draw against Huddersfield Town last weekend, and the club have confirmed that he is set to spend the next month on the sidelines.
Pennington's injury could allow Ipswich Town loanee Elkan Baggott to receive an extended run in the Blackpool defensive quartet, alongside Oliver Casey, James Husband and Brighton loanee Odeluga Offiah.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; Fitzwater, Purrington, Francis; Niskanen, Woods, Doyle, Colwill; Aitchison; Magennis, Alli
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Offiah, Baggott, Casey, Husband; Apter, Evans, Morgan, Hamilton; Fletcher, Bloxham
We say: Exeter City 2-2 Blackpool
While Exeter City have the home advantage in this match, Blackpool have been difficult to beat on the road recently, losing only one of their last six away games since the end of November.
We are expecting a close contest at St James Park on Saturday and feel that these two will end up having to settle for a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
